Dynamic configuration of an industrial control system

Abstract

A controller module, method, and a non-transitory computer program product are disclosed for the dynamic configuration of an industrial control system, which can include a current settings receiver configured to receive current configuration and security settings of the industrial control system, a changed settings receiver configured to receive changed configuration settings of the industrial control system, a settings analyzer configured to determine, based on the current configuration and security settings and the changed configuration settings, updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system, and a dynamic activator configured to dynamically establish at least one communication path in order to activate updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for dynamic re-configuration of an industrial control system including production control units interconnected via network units, comprising:
 determining current configuration and security settings of the industrial control system; 
 proposing changes to a production control unit of the industrial control system; 
 determining, based on the current configuration and security settings and the proposed changes, updated configuration and security settings for the network units of the industrial control system; and 
 dynamically establishing at least one communication path to the production control unit, by activating the updated configuration and security settings for the network units of the industrial control system. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an application of the industrial control system includes first and second components executed on first and second hosts, respectively, comprising:
 proposing changes including re-assignment of the second component from the second host to a third host of the industrial control system; and 
 establishing a communication path from the first host to the third host by activating the updated configuration and security settings for the network units of the industrial control system. 
 
     
     
       3. A controller module for the dynamic configuration of an industrial control system, comprising:
 a current settings receiver configured to receive current configuration and security settings of the industrial control system; 
 a changed settings receiver configured to receive changed configuration settings of the industrial control system; 
 a settings analyzer configured to determine, based on the current configuration and security settings and the changed configuration settings, updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system; and 
 a dynamic activator configured to dynamically establish at least one communication path in order to activate the updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system. 
 
     
     
       4. The controller module according to  claim 3 , wherein the changed settings receiver is configured to capture changed configuration settings transmitted by a change manager system. 
     
     
       5. The controller module according to  claim 3 , wherein the changed settings receiver is configured to detect changed configuration caused by a change in status of at least one of:
 network units and production control units of the industrial control system. 
 
     
     
       6. The controller module according to  claim 4 , wherein the changed settings receiver is configured to detect changed configuration caused by a change in status of at least one of:
 a network unit and a production control unit of the industrial control system. 
 
     
     
       7. The controller module according to  claim 3 , wherein the settings analyzer is configured to determine updated configuration and security settings based on at least one of:
 a redundant network unit and a redundant production control unit of the control system. 
 
     
     
       8. The controller module according to  claim 6 , wherein the settings analyzer is configured to determine updated configuration and security settings based on at least one of:
 a redundant network unit and a redundant production control unit of the control system. 
 
     
     
       9. The controller module according to  claim 3 , wherein the dynamic activator is configured to open at least one temporary communication path between the settings activator and at least one of:
 a network unit and a production control unit of the control system in order to activate updated configuration and security settings of the control system. 
 
     
     
       10. The controller module according to  claim 8 , wherein the dynamic activator is configured to open at least one temporary communication path between the settings activator and at least one of:
 a network unit and a production control unit of the control system in order to activate updated configuration and security settings of the control system. 
 
     
     
       11. The controller module according to  claim 3 , wherein the settings analyzer is configured to determine updated configuration and security settings based on at least one of:
 a redundant network unit and a redundant production control unit of the control system. 
 
     
     
       12. The controller module according to  claim 10 , wherein the settings analyzer is configured to determine updated configuration and security settings based on at least one of:
 a redundant network unit and a redundant production control unit of the control system. 
 
     
     
       13. The controller module according to  claim 3 , wherein the changed settings receiver is configured to receive changed security settings of the control system, and wherein the settings analyzer is configured to determine based on changed security settings, updated configuration and security settings of the control system. 
     
     
       14. The controller module according to  claim 12 , wherein the changed settings receiver is configured to receive changed security settings of the control system, and wherein the settings analyzer is configured to determine, based on the changed security settings, updated configuration and security settings of the control system. 
     
     
       15. The controller module according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 an updated settings transmitter for transmitting updated configuration and security settings to a change manager system. 
 
     
     
       16. The controller module according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 an updated settings transmitter for transmitting updated configuration and security settings to a change manager system. 
 
     
     
       17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer program code which upon execution will cause a controller module to:
 receive current configuration and security settings of an industrial control system; 
 receive changed configuration settings of the industrial control system; 
 determine, based on current configuration and security settings and changed configuration settings, updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system; and 
 dynamically establish at least one communication path in order to activate the updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer program product of  claim 17 , in combination with an application for an industrial control system which includes first and second components executed on first and second hosts, respectively, wherein the computer program product and application will, upon execution, cause the controller module and/or first and second hosts to:
 propose changes including re-assignment of the second component from the second host to a third host of the industrial control system; and 
 establish a communication path from the first host to the third host by activating the updated configuration and security settings for network units of the industrial control system.